PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 09-1563 Release Date: July 21, 2009 COMMENT SOUGHT ON ADVANTAGE CELLULAR SYSTEMS, INC., REQUEST FOR COST-BASED HIGH-COST UNVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT WC Docket No. 05-337 CC Docket No. 96-45 Comment Date: August 20, 2009 Reply Comment Date: September 4, 2009 On March 27, 2009, Advantage Cellular Systems, Inc. (Advantage), a wireless competitive eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), filed a request to receive cost-based uncapped high-cost universal service support.1 The Commission’s Interim Cap Order adopted an emergency cap on the amount of high-cost universal service support that competitive ETCs may receive.2 The Interim Cap Order stated, however, that a competitive ETC will not be subject to the interim cap on high-cost universal service support to the extent that it files cost data demonstrating that its costs meet the support threshold in the same manner as the incumbent local exchange carrier.3 Advantage states that its cost study demonstrates the extremely high cost associated with the provision of wireless telecommunications in its rural service areas and that it is in the public interest for Advantage to receive high-cost support exempt from the cap.4 Advantage further requests that its high-cost support not be determined directly on the basis of its costs, but rather it receive support in accordance with the identical support rule set forth in section 54.307 of the Commission’s rules.5 Interested parties may file comments on or before August 20, 2009, and reply comments on or before September 4, 2009. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 05-337 and CC Docket No. 1 Advantage Cellular Systems, Inc., Request for Cost-Based Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket No. 96-45 (filed Mar. 27, 2009) (Advantage Request). 2 See High-Cost Universal Service Support; Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, WC Docket No. 05- 337, CC Docket No. 96-45, Order, 23 FCC Rcd 8834 (2008) (Interim Cap Order). 3 See Interim Cap Order, 23 FCC Rcd at 8844, para. 31. 4 See Advantage Request at 2-3. Advantage has requested that its cost study submission be treated as confidential and be withheld from public inspection. See Advantage Cellular Systems, Inc., Request for Cost-Based Universal Service Support, Request that Materials and Information Submitted to the FCC be Withheld from Public Inspection, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket No. 96-45 (filed Mar. 27, 2009). 5 See Advantage Request at 8; 47 C.F.R. § 54.307. 2 96-45. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or by filing paper copies.6 § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. § For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington D.C. 20554. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to each of the following: (1) The Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, www.bcpiweb.com; phone: (202) 488-5300 fax: (202) 488- 5563; (2) Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-C408, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Gary.Seigel@fcc.gov; and (3) Antoinette Stevens, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B521, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Antoinette.Stevens@fcc.gov. 6 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 3 Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300, fax: (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail www.bcpiweb.com. This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.7 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required.8 Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules.9 For further information, please contact Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484. - FCC - 7 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 8 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 9 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).